2016 FIVB BEACH VOLLEYBALL WORLD TOUR FINALS
- September 14th-18th, 2016
- Toronto, Canada
- Schedule/results
- Tournament Central
- Live Stream
- VolleyMob Bracket Breakdown
American Keri Walsh-Jennings, at 38-years old, is the oldest women’s player at this year’s FIVB World Tour Finals, and in 2016 showed her first-ever Olympic vulnerability. She and her new-ish partner, 34-year old April Ross, lost to the Brazilian duo of Larissa Franca and Talita Antunes, which was Jennings’ first Olympic loss on the beach (she was on the 4th-place American indoor team in Sydney).
Now, Jennings says that she’s not decided about continuing her career as the most decorated beach volleyball Olympian in history.
After beating Australian’s Taliqua Clancy and Louise Bawden in the team’s first match of this year’s World Tour Finals, Walsh-Jennings and Ross spoke on their future.
When asked about plans for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Walsh-Jennings said “We will talk when the time comes,” giving her teammate a hug.
“I think once we all reflect on this wonderful year and, ya know, we need a break from volleyball for a little bit, our brains and everything. It’ll be a fun talk because I know whatever we choose to do it’s going to be amazing for both of us and the future is really bright so it’s going to be great.”
So… #Tokio2020 ⁉️ @AprilRossBeach @kerrileewalsh ???????? #TorontoFinals pic.twitter.com/2Kv8UNSL0B
— Swatch Major Series (@SwatchMajors) September 15, 2016
Walsh-Jennings’ long-time teammate Misty May-Treanor, with whom she never lost an Olympic game and at one point won 32 straight sets, retired after the 2012 Olympics.
Walsh-Jennings would go on later that year to break the record for the most wins by a female professional: a record she’s continued to grow in the four years since.
Walsh has given birth to three children (two sons and a daughter) throughout her career – in 2009, 2010, and 2013. She competed at the 2012 Olympics while 5 weeks pregnant. She’s believed to be one of only 5 women to win an Olympic gold medal while pregnant.
Walsh-Jennings and Ross will play their quarterfinal matchup at 4:00 PM (Toronto time) on Friday. They wind up with an unfavorable draw, having to play the home country pair of Bansley/Wilkerson, or the Olympic champions Ludwig/Walkenhorst from Germany (who lost both of their pool matches on Thursday).
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